Not so many people know about the wider system or the importance of studying the basics practices as preparation before working with sexual energy. Sexual energy as well as being a high-octane fuel used for healing, procreation and creative projects also has the power to multiply/amplify. The multiplying effect when combined with unexpressed negative emotions makes for a disastrous combination. This is a simple explanation for the emotional rollercoaster of some relationships. So starting to work with sexual energy before balancing the emotions can have some unwanted side effects. Everyone knows that before exercise it is best to warm up, well the first step in Taoist alchemy is to transform the emotions of the organs into the virtues.

Table: Emotions with their connected organ, element and virtues

Emotion

Organ

Element

Virtue

Frustration, Anger

Liver

Wood

Forgiveness, Kindness

Hastiness, Impatience, Hatred

Heart

Fire

Love, Joy, Happiness

Anxiety, Worry

Spleen

Earth

Trust, Openness, Centred, Grounded

Sadness, Melancholy, Depression

Lung

Metal

Courage, Righteousness

Fear, Phobia, Trauma

Kidney

Water

Calm, peace, Wisdom

Using the simple and easy to learn practices of the inner smile and six healing sounds we clear the organ and energy channels of stagnant energy, transform the emotions and prepare the way for health and working with sexual energy. Once the body is full of kindness, love, happiness, trust, openness, courage, calmness and peace it is time to unleash the sexual energy!

Diagram 1: Click to Enlarge

Starting with the liver (Wood) which is the first organ affected by stress and finishing on the Kidneys (Water) has the added bonus of transforming the stress from the liver into vitality. We bring the energy from organ to organ making use of their natural energetic relationships and finally store it in the Kidneys, our storehouse of vitality and sexual energy. The practices return a feeling of flow, vibrancy and harmony to the energy system, mind, emotions and body. (See Diagram 1)

The Taoist teachings give an equal importance to working with the mind and body systems, as they understand the link between the two. We work on the body with simple qigong – moving exercises combining breathing and energy direction and awareness – to cultivate our connection with the earth energy, our root and sense of grounding. This connection manifests physically as a stable structure that can be trusted to support us, which gives us confidence and emotional balance.

These practices may seem esoteric at first glance but scientific research is beginning to understand the mechanisms behind them. There is mounting evidence supporting the benefits of meditation, mindfulness, Qigong and tai chi, cultivating gratitude, forgiveness and the link between health the body emotions and mind.

We have regular workshops and classes in the basic practices, the next weekend intensive is on the 27th & 28th July and next class on the 25th July.

Once you are all warmed up the next Healing Love workshop will be on 28th & 29th October with Master Chia.

Almost 1200 year’s ago on Hua Shan, a mountain known for its Taoist monasteries lived Taoist sage Chen Tuan, the 5 patriarch of the Hua Shan sect. His council was sought by emperors and he was known for his exercises to cultivate health and longevity and also for his dream yoga.

One of his exercise systems was Liu He Ba Fa, the six harmonies and eight methods of mind and intention. The six harmonies map out a clear route from the physical into higher states of conciousness. The Hua Shan sect has its roots in the northern school of Taoism known for its dual cultivation of mind and body so this form is not only Taoist in origin but an integral part of Taoist practice.

Liu He Ba Fa is an advanced health system and internal alchemy practice as well as being a highly effective and revered martial art. Its core training focuses on Daoyin and Qigong methods comprising of unique breathing and meditation techniques. There is a 66 posture form practised adopting the intention of 12 different animals, which has more than 800 movements and over 2500 practical applications making it the most complex of all internal martial systems.

The Liu He Ba Fa form flows and is beautiful to watch. Also known as Water Boxing or Water Style the depth of the movements reflect the practitioners ability to let go and be like water. Speed, height and timing of the moves vary from slow to fast, high to low and gentle to crashing as the analogy to water is explored. Water is often used as a symbol of the Tao so the arts ideal to become like water reflects the goal of practice to merge with the source, the Tao.

Until recently Liu He Ba Fa was passed on in closed circles from Master to student. Considered by some to be the cream of Chinese internal martial arts systems Liu He Ba fa is little known even today. In the late 1920’s Grandmaster Wu Yijin began to teach the system more openly. It is because of him and his students that the art and benefits have begun to spread around the globe.

I have recently has the good fortune to bump into Jennifer Lee, a 6th Generation Liu He Ba Fa Master Living in Germany. Jennifer will be coming to London a few times this year as part of her commitment to sharing this wonderful art. You can find more information about Liu He Ba Fa and Master Lee here – Liu He Ba Fa Water Style in London

This version of the Nei Jing Tu, a diagram of internal pathways, is based on a late nineteenth century stele found in the White Cloud Taoist monastery in Beijing. The origins of this diagram are not clear but probably go back at least a thousand years. It was found by Liu Chengyin who perceived it’s hidden message in an instant and decided it was too precious to be hidden way from the world. He copied it and made it available once again to all who can intuit its message.

This powerful depiction of a seated man in meditation has become popular in Taoist circles and it has become a symbol of internal alchemy in the west. Not surprising as it is clearly visually stimulating and was probably used as a visual aid during meditation. The diagram is a representation of Taoist inner alchemy theory, processes and techniques. It illustrates our connection to the natural world, by showing the human body as a microcosm of nature.

The map refers to the practice of the microcosmic orbit (the small heavenly cycle) made up of governing and conception vessels. It clearly shows the process of reversing the flow of the water of life. The Qi is pumped up the spine through 3 passes to the cranial cavity. The main energy centres, the dan tians, otherwise know as the 3 elixier fields are represented in the diagram as the ox, the cowherd and the old man. Another striking feature is the range of mountain peaks that guide down the universal energy into the centre of the brain.

Since the first time I saw this diagram it has remained in my mind like an imprint, a pattern to be decoded over years of cultivation. I remember hearing Juan li talking about Tibetan art in the Documentary “How it all began, the origins of the Universal Healing Tao” he said something along the lines that the art of Tibetan painting was to capture the essence of the practice. So that with a single glance the practice could be intuitively understood.

If you would like to find out more there is a free ebook available at Tao Directory with translations of the main characters on the map and also a short you tube video below. You may have to click the title of the post to see the video.

I read an article recently about the effects of sitting for long periods of time on your health which shocked me and made me look afresh at my own behaviour. You probably like me wouldn’t have associated heart disease, diabetes, obesity and even cancer with sitting down for too long but this is the conclusion being drawn by many scientific studies. The average Britain is said to sit for between 9 and 14 hours a day. When you consider that after only one and a half hours blood flow at the back of the knee drops by 50% and after only 4 hours changes start taking place at the cellular level with genes regulating fat and sugar in the body beginning to shut down. Most of us are unwittingly putting ourselves in danger at the office, relaxing on the sofa, driving and I guess even going to the cinema.

It is easier to see the link between sitting for long periods with back pain and it is a huge problem in this county with 4 out of 5 of us statistically expecting to suffer from it as some point in our lives. In most cases our sedentary life styles are to blame as our bodies are designed to and function best when moving. Interestingly emotions also play a part and it has been found that those who said they enjoyed their jobs were less likely to suffer back problems.

Monks in various traditions also faced this problem as they sat in meditation for long periods of time. Despite not having the back up of scientific studies many systems intuitively realised that periods of inactivity need to interspaced with activity. In Zen and Vipassana they often walk and sit alternately and in Taoist traditions they developed the complex therapeutic exercise systems of tao yin and chi kung(Qigong).

I have been guilty of sitting for hours at a desk and not moving in the past. Having the discipline to move every now and again for some reason at the time didn’t come naturally to me. Recently I bought a book on stretching which had some very quick and simple routines for the morning and evening that take only 3 or 4 minutes. It also has a whole section on office fitness with some fun and creative stretches for the desk worker some routines just take 1 minute! Highly recommended for someone who doesn’t have the time or inclination to go to an exercise class, learn chi kung, tao yin or yoga. A few minutes a day could change your life and add years to it. Otherwise come along to our next class in Holborn to learn basic tao yin and chi kung which you can adapt for the office environment or at least do when you are at home or in the car. Both options are only a £10 to £15 investment.

Click for the original article in the Metro for Class information or for more information on the recommended book –

You can search under certification keys or instructor status and your country. Associate instructors can teach the basics, the next level up is certified instructor who can teach a wide range of course and then senior instructors.